Patra Spanou Picks Up Venice-Bound ‘Sugar Island’

Patra Spanou Film has taken international sales rights to Johanné Gómez Terrero‘s coming-of-age story “Sugar Island,” which makes its world premiere in Venice Days, an independent sidebar to the Venice Film Festival. The first trailer has been released (above).

In the film, an unplanned pregnancy pushes Makenya into adulthood, forcing her to prematurely take on responsibilities for her body and life, which stretches her limits and allows her to unlock new levels of understanding about the society she inhabits, as well as her spirituality.

In a statement, Gómez Terrero said: “When my teenage niece became pregnant as a result of statutory rape, I witnessed how her surroundings shamed her instead of supporting and protecting her. At that time, I was immersed in research in the Bateyes, the communities of sugarcane workers. I extrapolated this family situation to the context of the Bateyes, and realized how common early pregnancy is in peripheral areas. In the process of creating the film, I delved into both my own experiences and the territory, as well as national archives, establishing connections between the private and the public, highlighting how the society that contains us also imprisons us.”

Patra Spanou, head of Patra Spanou Film, said: “Setting in the center of her story a teenager from the Gen Z, the director creates a fresh view on the sugar island society, a young, modern, diverse, creative community, politically conscious. Makenya’s story transmits messages on migration, human rights, economical and social injustice in a modern accessible modus, enriched with strong images despite if it is art performances, vogueing, religious celebrations or magical realism. A film able to attract audiences of all generations, around the world.”

The film is produced by Fernando Santos Díaz; the co-producer is David Baute. It is a co-production between Guasabara Cine of Dominican Republic and Tinglado Film of Spain. It is produced with the support of DGcine, Fonprocine, ICAA, Programa Ibermedia, Primera Mirada and Television Canaria.